Clean-out plug



Sept. 21, 1965 v. L. FRANTZ 3,207,540

CLEAN-OUT PLUG Filed Sept. 17, 1962 Inventor:

Virgil L. Frantz his Attorney United States This invention relates generally to locomotive sanding systems and particularly to cleanout plugs for sand traps of such systems.

To enable it to be cleaned out periodically, a sand trap has a clean-out port in its bottom which normally is closed by a plug. The usual clean-out plug is threaded externally to fit into the clean-out port. With this arrangement, the ditliculty is the tendency of sand to foul the threads with con-sequent interference with insertion of the plug at the end of a clean-out operation. Even if the flow of sand to the clean out port is interruptable, as by a cut-off blocking entry of sand into the trap or a flap or other means interposed between the clean-out port and the sand chamber in the trap, insertion of the plug requires a wrench or other suitable tool and ordinarily is possible without injuring the threads only after the latter have been wiped or blown out to clear them of sand. The difficulty is further compounded if, for lack of a separate cut-off, the sand is free to flow to the cleanout port during application of the plug, since then the force of gravity on the sand almost invariably causes it to foul the threads.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved clean-out plug for a sand trap whereby the cleanout port in the trap can readily be closed without risk of fouling any threads and regardless of whether the port is empty or full of sand when it is to be closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleanout plug for a sand trap by which the clean-out port in the trap can be opened and closed without the use of tools and which in its port-closing position is proof against accidental dislodgment.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a clean-out plug for a sand trap wherein the member for opening and closing the clean-outport in the trap, instead of being threaded is mounted to swing across the port and in closing wipes any sand particles before it, thereby effectively eliminating interference by sand with closing of the port.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleanout plug for a sand trap, wherein a swinging closure member by which the clean-out port normally is closed, is protected in closed position by a cover and the handle for the closure member provides the spring pressure for locking the cover in place and pressing the closure member against its seat, thereby not only eliminating interference by sand with closing of the port and preventing accidental opening but facilitating the opening and closing of the port without the use of tools.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and be illustrated in accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a sand trap incorporating a preferred embodiment of the clean-out plug of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the sand trap of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the sand trap of FIGURE 1 with the cover of the clean-out plug removed and its closure member in open position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the scale of FIGURE 4, taken along lines 55 of FIG- URE 1; and

'atent Q 3,207,540 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 filed December 29, 1961.

The illustrated sand trap or sander has a body 1 of general L-shape in which is enclosed or contained a correspondingly shaped sand chamber 2. The sand chamber has an upright or vertically extending inlet leg 3 opening upwardly onto the upper end 4 of the body 1 and a generally horizontally directed outlet leg 5 opening outwardly onto the bodys outer end 6.

With sand fed by gravity into its inlet leg 3 from a sand dome or reservoir (not shown) and discharged from its outlet leg 5 into a delivery pipe or line (not shown) leading to the rails, the sand chamber 2 of the exemplary sand trap has in it between its legs a rotatable gate or blade 7 for adjusting the rate of sand discharge in the manner described in application Ser. No. 163,312. As

does the trap of that application, the illustrated trap has an inbuilt air passage or nozzle 8 for the actuating air, the passage extending from an air inlet port 9, about a cleanout opening 10 and under the floor 11 of the outlet leg 5 of the sand chamber 2, to the outer end 6 of the body 1.

Opening downwardly from the sand chamber 2 onto the bottom of the body 1 and substantially aligned vertically with the inlet leg 3, the clean-out opening 10 provides access to the sand chamber for periodic cleaning of the sand trap. It is with this opening and the means by which it normally is closed that the present invention is primarily 1 concerned.

Termed as a whole a clean-out plug 12, the means for normally closing the clean-plug opening 10 will depend somewhat in its structure on that of the particular sand trap to which it is applied. Thus, if the air passage 8 is a separate nozzle or otherwise removed from the clean-out opening, the opening itself may be the cleanout port with a lower or bottom end portion extending below the underside 13 of the body and surrounded or encircled by a downstanding or depending, preferably cylindrical boss 14 which, conveniently, can be formed integrally with the body 1. However, if, as illustrated, the air passage branches about the clean-out opening through a circumferential or annular, open-sided channel or groove 15 in the side wall 16 of the opening, the clean-out plug will include a sleeve or tubular fitting,

coupling, connector or insert 17 insertable into the open preferred fitting 17 has, as its lower part below the flange 19, the preferably cylindrical boss 14 and over its upper part or neck 20 has a cylindrical periphery or outer side 21, which in the main is smooth and has a sliding lit with the side wall 16 of the opening 10. The fitting 17 is externally threaded, as at 22, immediately above the flange 19 for engagement with the internally threaded lower part of the openings side wall 16. To enable it to seal the channel 15 against air leakage, the fitting depends on an O-ring or like gasket 23 conveniently together form the clean-out plug 12, proper.

:ing through the port, will pick up sand particles.

inset in its periphery 21 and sealingly engageable with the wall 16 above the channel and on a machined fit between its flange 19 and a confronting seat or face 24 on the underside of the body 1. Since the fitting can be applied to the body before installation of the sand trap in a sanding system and, thereafter, need seldom if ever be removed, potential interference by sand with its application to or insertion in the body 1 is practically non-existent.

Except that the fitting 17 affords a convenient and very practical seal for the channel in the inbuilt air passage 8 of the illustrated trap, its purpose is to mount the parts with which it is initially assembled and which Of these parts the closure member or plug 25 which closes or plugs and shuts off flow of sand from the clean-out port 18, is preferably a flat, generally circular disc, plate, blade or slide mounted for swinging or sweeping laterally or sideways across the port substantially normal to the latters axis. The closure disc 25 most readily is swingably or pivotably mounted on the lower, bottom or outer end 26 of the boss 14 at a side of the port 18, con- -veniently by a stud or, as shown, a bolt 27 held against loosening by a Teflon or like friction insert 28, in

the bolts shank.

By making the boss lower end 26 as a flat surface or face and mounting the disc 25 to swing substantially parallel to and in contact or engagement with that surface, the disc on swinging from open or out-of-the-way to closed position, will cut across any sand flowing from 'the port 18 and push or sweep before it along the surface any sand particles clinging to the latter. Thus, in moving across rather than against the sand flow and wiping or cleaning the end surface 26 as it moves thereacross, the closure disc is not subject to the troubles confronted in applying a conventional threaded clean-out plug. However, that portion of the upper or inner face,

surface or side 29 of the disc which sweeps across and is exposed to the port 18 can and, if sand is then flow- The inner rim 30 of the cylindrical boss 14 bounding the bore 18, would tend to wipe such particles from the disc, if in closing the leading edge 31 of the disc were required to swing past that rim onto the end surface 26. However, if, as will usually be the case, sand is flowing through the clean-out port at the timethe disc is swung closed, almost inevitably one or more sand particles will be caught between the leading edge 30 and inner rim 29 and, so caught, will wedge, jam or prevent the disc from being fully closed. It therefore is desirable positively to stop or limit the swing of the disc toward closed position, such that the portion of the disc exposed in closing to the clean-out port 18 cannot move past the port onto the end surface 26, and to rely on some means, other than contact between the leading edge portion of the disc and the end surface, to com- I plete the closing of the port.

For the above purpose, the leading edge 31 over the central portion 32 of the disc 25, which in closing underrides and is exposed to the port 18, preferably is arcuately or circularly convex and has substantially the same radius as and in closed position is concentric with the port or, more precisely, the inner rim 30 of the boss bounding the port. In closing the leading edge is adapted to engage and seat against a face or side 33 of corresponding extent and arcuity of a sponge or like rubber seal, strip or pad 34, sufiiciently soft to embed or enfold the edge of the disc and any sand particles adhering to the disc on or adjacent the edge and thus effectively seal about the edge despite any such particles. The soft rubber sealing strip or pad 34 is inset in a recess or socket of semi-cylindrical or other suitable configuration in or interrupting and opening onto the end surface 26 and inner rim 30 of the boss 14. Projecting, depending or extending below the end surface 26 sufficiently to accommodate or embrace the thickness of the disc 25 and instanding somewhat into the bore to yield to and seal about the leading edge 31 in the discs closed position, the rubber sealing strip or pad 34 is held or retained in place by an arcuate retainer plate 35 spaced below and releasably attached at either end to the lower end of the boss, as by screws or bolts 36. Projecting with the other below the boss, one of these retainer screws 36, here that removed from the pivot bolt 27, is made to serve also as a limit stop for the disc by providing the disc at its free or distal side with an abutment or shoulder 37 adjacent and outstanding from the outer end of the curved leading edge 31 and engageable with the stop screw in the discs closed position.

Enlarged beyond the part contained by the leading edge 31 and otherwise preferably of a size or area substantially to cover the annular end surface 26 between the inner and outer rims 30 and 38, respectively, of the boss 14, the disc 25 in its swing is limited in a closing direction by one and in an opening direction by the other of the screws 36. Thus, an operator simply need swing the disc against one or the other of the positive stops to ensure that the clean-out port will be fully closed in one case and fully open in the other. However, only the limit on closing movement is concerned with preventing possible interference by sand with the effectiveness of the disc in closing the clean-out port.

The pivot of the disc 25 on the pivot bolt 27necessarily is located in the discs enlarged part at a greater distance than the leading edge 31 from the latters center, to enable the disc to clear the clean-out port 18, with the eccentricity or outset of the pivot preferably such that the central portion 32 will be clear of the boss 14 when the disc is in open position. As a consequence, the upper side 28 of the discs central portion is exposed or subjected to the wiping action first of the inner rim 30 and then of the outer rim 38 of the boss as the disc is swung open and then closed and any sand particles on that side, as the disc is about to be opened, are effectively wiped off before the disc is next closed. Moreover, in the swing of the disc between open and closed positions, there is no edge, between which and one of the rims 30 and 38, particles of flowing sand might be caught, except as the leading edge 31 approaches the confronting part of the inner rim.

Adapted in the above manner to seat against the end surface 26 on and the rubber sealing pad 34 in the boss '14 and effectively seal the clean-out port 18 without interference by sand, the closure disc is operated to swing it between open and closed position by a handle 39 fixed or attached, as by a screw 39a, to and projecting downwardly or downstand ing from its under-side or under-face or surface 40. When the closure disc is closed it preferably is covered and protected from the elements and against accidental operation by a recessed or socketed cap or cover 41 which slides over the disc and its handle 39 and onto the outer rim 38 of the boss above the latters lower end 26. The cap is releasably connected to the boss 14 'for easy application and removal by a bayonet type joint or coupling formed by bayonet slots 42 on opposite sides of the boss outer rim 38 and cooperating bolts or studs 43 projecting through or instanding from the caps side wall 44 with turning of the cap by hand facilitated by knurling the outer surface of that wall. The desired sealing of the joint between the cap and the 'boss against entry of foreign matter conveniently is accomplished by insetting an O-ring or like gasket 45 into the rim 38 of the boss.

Were the cap 41 dispensed with, the handle 39 might be any suitable rigid handle. However, if, as ordinarily will be preferred, the clean-out plug 12 includes the cap, the handle, instead of being rigid, desirably is formed by a volute or other suitable compression spring positioned or located centrally of the disc 25 and substantially centered on the clean-out port v18 in the discs closed position. So constructed, the spring handle 39, when the cap 41 is applied, acts vertically or axially between the bottom wall or closed bottom end 46 of the cap and the underside 39 of the disc, forcing the cap downwardly and the disc upwardly. Opposing application of the cap, the spring 39 thus, by forcing the bolts or studs 43 downwardly in the notches 47 at the inner ends of the bayonet slots 42, holds or locks the cap against accidental dislodgment. At the same time, the opposing upward force of the spring on the disc presses the latter firmly against the end surface 26 on the boss 14, ensuring a tight seal between that surface and the disc, regardless of any play developed in service in the pivotal mounting of the disc.

From the above-detailed description it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved clean-out plug for a sand trap which is simple and rugged in construction, provides an effective and accident-proof seal and permits ready access for cleaning to the interior of the trap without the use of tools. It should be understood that the described and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all modifications are intended to be included that do not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A clean-out plug for a downwardly opening cleanout port in a body of a sand trap, comprising closure means for closing said port during a sanding operation, said means being swingably mounted on said body adjacent said port' and swingable laterally across an outer end of said port between closed and open positions, and cover means releasably attachable to said body about said port after swinging of said closure means to closed position for covering said closure means in said closed position thereof.

2. A clean-out plug for a downwardly opening cleanout port in a body of a sand trap, comprising closure means for closing said port during a sanding operation,

said means being swingably mounted on said body adjacent said port and swingable laterally across an outer end of said port between closed and open position, cover means releasably attachable to said body about said port a for covering said closure means in said closed position thereof, and yieldable means acting between said closure and cover means for urging said closure means against a seat therefor on and yieldably resisting detachment of said cover means from said body.

3. A clean-out plug for a downwardly opening cleanout port in a body of a sand trap, comprising closure means for closing said port during a sanding operation, said means being swingably mounted on said body adjacent said port and swingable laterally across an outer end of said port between closed and open positions, cover means releasably attachable to said body about said port for covering said closure means in a closed position thereof, and a spring handle affixed to an under side of said closure means substantially centrally thereof, said handle on attachment of said cover means acting therebetween and said closure means for urging said closure means against a seat therefor on said body and yieldably resisting detachment of said cover means.

4. In a sand trap having a body and a downwardly opening clean-out port therein, the combination of a boss on said body about said port and having a substantially fiat lower end surface, a closure disc for closing said port during a sanding operation, said disc being pivotally mounted on said boss at a side of said port and swingable laterally across said port and against said surface between positions to close and open said port and cover means releasably adaptable to said boss about said port after closing thereof by said disc.

5. In a sand trap having a body and a downwardly opening clean-out port therein, the combination of a boss on said body about said port and having a substantially fiat lower end surface, a closure disc for closing said port during a sanding operation, said disc being pivotally mounted on said boss at a side of said port and swingable laterally across said port and against said surface between positions to close and open said port, and rubber means attached to said boss at a side of said port and disposed to sealingly engage a leading edge of said disc on swinging thereof to closed position.

6; In a sand trap having a body and a downwardly opening clean-out port therein, the combination of a boss on said body about said port and having a substantially flat lower end surface, a closure disc for closing said port during a sanding operation, said disc being pivotally mounted on said boss at a side of said port and swingable laterally across said port and against said surface between positions to close and open said port, an arcuately convex leading edge on said disc of substantially the same radius as said port, and a soft rubber pad in said boss at a side of said port and sealingly engaging said leading edge in said closed position of said disc.

7. In a sand trap having a body and a downwardly opening clean-out port therein, the combination of a boss on said body about said port and having a substantially flat lower end surface, a closure disc for closing said port during a sanding operation, said disc being pivotally mounted on said boss at a side of said port and swingable laterally across said port and against said surface between positions to close and open said port, said disc having on a portion exposed during swinging thereof to said port an arcuately convex leading edge of substantially the radius of said port, stop means on said boss and engageable with shoulder means on said disc for limiting swinging of said disc toward closed position and preventing said leading edge from riding onto an adjacent part of said surface after crossing Said port, and a soft rubber pad attached to said boss and covering said adjacent part of said surface, said pad sealingly engaging said leading edge in said closed position of said disc.

8. In a sand trap having a downwardly opening cleanout port in a body thereof, the combination of a boss on said body about said port and having a substantially fiat lower end and a soft rubber pad inset in said end at a side of said 'port, a disc pivotally mounted on said boss and swingable thereacross between open and closed positions, said disc in closed position having an upper side seating against said lower end and an edge sealingly engaged by said rubber pad, a spring handle fixed to an underside of said disc and substantially centered in the closed position thereof on said port, a recessed cover slidable in said closed position of said disc thereover and onto an outer rim of said boss, and a bayonet coupling releasably attaching said cover to said boss, said handle on attachment of said cover acting therebetween and said disc for urging said disc against said lower end and cooperating with said coupling for yieldably locking said cover against detachment.

9. In a sand trap having a downwardly opening cleanout port in a body thereof, the combination of a boss on said body about said port and having a substantially flat lower end and a soft rubber pad inset in said end at a side of said port, a disc pivotally mounted on said boss and swingable thereacross between open and closed positions, said disc in closed position having an upper side seating against said lower end and an edge sealingly engaged by said rubber pad, a spring handle fixed to an underside of said disc and in the closed position thereof substantially centered on said port, a recessed cover slidable in said closed position of said disc thereover and onto an outer rim of said boss, an O-ring inset in said rim and engaging a side of said cap for sealing the joint therebetween, and a bayonet coupling releasably attaching said cover to said boss, said spring handle on attachment of said cover acting therebetween and said disc for urging said disc against said lower end and cooperating with said coupling for yieldably locking said cover against detachment.

10. In a sand trap having a body, a downwardly opening clean-out opening in said body and an air passage inbuilt in said body and including a groove in a side of said detachment.

opening; the combination of sleeve means having an upper part inserted into said opening for closing a side of said groove and a lower part projecting below said opening on insertion of said upper part thereinto, a passage extending axially through said sleeve means, a closure member mounted on said lower part for swinging against a lower end surface thereof across said sleeve passage between passage-closing and opening positions, spring means fixed to and depending from an underside of said closure member for swinging said member between said closing and opening positions, a cover slidable onto said lower part about said closure member in said closing position thereof, and means for releasably attaching said cover to said lower part, said spring means on attachment of said cover acting therebetween and said closure member for urging said closure member against said end surface and in cooperation with said attaching means yieldably locking said cover against detachment.

11. In a sand trap having a body, a downwardly opening clean-out opening in said body and an air passage inbuilt in said body and including a groove in a side of said opening; the combination of sleeve means having an upper part inserted into said opening for closing a side of said groove and a lower part projecting below said opening on insertion of said upper part thereunto, a passage extending axially through said sleeve means, a closure member mounted on said lower part for swinging against a lower end surface thereof across said sleeve passage between passage-closing and opening positions, rubber means on said lower part at a side of said passage and sealingly engageable with a leading edge of a central portion of said closure member in said closing position thereof, spring means fixed to and depending from an underside of said central position of said closure member for swinging said member between said closing and opening positions, a cover slidable onto said lower part about said closure member in said closing position thereof, and means for releasably attaching said cover to said lower part, said spring means on attachment of said cover acting therebetween and said closure member for urging said closure member against said end surface and in cooperation with said attaching means yieldably locking said cover against part insertable .into said opening and adapted to project above said groove, an O-ring in an outer side of said upper part toward an upper end thereof for sealing between said side and a confronting side of said opening above said groove, said opening being threaded over a lower end portion thereof for engagement with correspondingly positioned external threads on said side of said upper part, flange means outstanding radially from said sleeve below said threads and having an upper surface tightly engagable with an undersurface of said body about a lower end of said opening, a closure member mounted on a lower part of said sleeve below said flange means for swinging against a lower end surface thereof across said sleeve passage between passage-closing and opening positions, rubber means on said lower part at a side of said sleeve passage and sealingly engageable with a leading edge of a central portion of said closure member in said closing position thereof, spring means fixed to and depending from an underside of said central position of said closure member for swinging said member between said closing and opening positions, a cover slidable onto said lower part about said closure member in said closing position thereof, and means for releasably attaching said cover to said lower part, said spring means on attachment of said cover acting therebetween and said closure member for urging said closure member against said end surface and in cooperation with said attaching means yieldably locking said cover against detachment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,425 6/ 89 Lourim.

575,834 1/97 Gonorovsky 291---35 1,029,682- 6/12 Hawthorne 29l---35 1,586,273 5/26 Wall 220-29 X 2,949,326 8/60 Lucas 291-41 JMILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.-

LEO QUACKENBUSH, Examiner. 

12. IN A SAND TRAY HAVING A BODY, A DOWNWARDLY OPENING CLEAN-OUT OPENING IN SAID BODY AND AN AIR PASSAGE INBUILT IN SAID BODY AND INCLUDING A GROOVE IN A SIDE OF SAID OPENING; THE COMBINATION OF A SLEEVE HAVING AN UPPER PART INSERTABLE INTO SAID OPENING AND ADAPTED TO PROJECT ABOVE SAID GROOVE, AN O-RING AN OUTER SIDE OF SAID UPPER PART TOWARD AN UPPER END THEREOF FOR SEALING BETWEEN SAID SIDE AND A CONFRONTING SIDE OF SAID OPENING ABOVE SAID GROOVE, SAID OPENING BEING THREADED OVER A LOWER END PORTION THEREOF FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH CORRESPONDINGLY POSITIONED EXTERNAL THREADS ON SAID SIDE OF SAID UPPER PART, FLANGE MEANS OUTSTANDING RADIALLY FROM SAID SLEEVE BELOW SAID THREADS AND HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE TIGHTLY ENGAGABLE WITH AN UNDERSURFACE OF SAID BODY ABOUT A LOWER END OF SAID OPENING, A CLOSURE MEMBER MOUNTED ON A LOWER PART OF SAID SLEEVE BELOW SAID FLANGE MEANS FOR SWINGING AGAINST A LOWER END SURFACE THEREOF ACROSS SAID SLEEVE PASSAGE BETWEEN PASSAGE-CLOSING AND OPENING POSITIONS, RUBBER MEANS ON SAID LOWER PART AT A SIDE OF SAID SLEEVE PASSAGE AND SEALINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH A LEADING EDGE OF A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID CLOURE MEMBER IN SAID CLOSING A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IN SAID CLOSING POSITION THEREOF, SPRING MEANS FIXED TO AND DEPENDING FROM AN UNDERSIDE OF SAID MEMBER POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE AND OPENING POSITIONS, A COVER SLIDABLE ONTO SAID LOWER PART ABOUT SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IN SAID CLOSING POSITION THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING SAID COVER TO SAID LOWER PART, SAID SPRING MEANS ON ATTAHMENT OF SAID COVER ACTING THEREBETWEEN AND SAID CLOSURE MEMBER FOR URGING SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AGAINST SAID END SURFACE AND IN COOPERATION WITH SAID ATTACHING MEANS YIELDABLY LOCKING SAID COVER AGAINST DETACHMENT. 